* City moves on plans to take over Taylor Hotel

By James Heffernan -- jheffernan@nvdaily.com

(4:55 p.m.) WINCHESTER -- The city is moving forward with plans to take over the crumbled Taylor Hotel property after developer Denver Quinnelly failed to provide an acceptable plan for its rehabilitation.

In a letter to Quinnelly dated Sept. 9 and made available to the media Monday, City Zoning and Inspections Administrator Vincent Diem says Quinnelly's latest plans to demolish and remove the rear and middle portions of the building while stabilizing the hotel portion "will not render the building as being either fit or habitable [and] would not abate the blighting influence on the public's welfare by retaining an empty shell of a historic landmark at the core of Old Town Winchester and within the Central Business District."

In response, the zoning department has drafted its own spot blight abatement plan, beginning with the enforcement of the original deadline of Sept. 26 for stabilizing the historic property. The city would then acquire the building through eminent domain and proceed with renovations using contractors or by selling it to another developer.

The plan will be presented to City Council's planning & development committee on Sept. 22, the letter states. If it is forwarded to the full council for approval, a public hearing will be held on Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. at Rouss City Hall.

For further developments, visit nvdaily.com or read the print edition of The Northern Virginia Daily.